SchoolScoresGarden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School
Academy · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed
Part of AMBITION EDUCATION TRUST
Townsend Drive, St Albans, AL3 5RL
01727 890440 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 November 2013. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 11 December 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
175 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
St Albans comparisons use the 24 of its 39 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 15 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | St Albans | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 15th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 95% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 17th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 34% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 20th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 24% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 56 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 21st highest of 22 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 19% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 41% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 134 parents who had raised a concern 21st highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 22% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 83% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 43 parents of children with SEND 7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 43% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 70% | 75% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 20th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83%said yes | 91% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 36%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. St Albans figures pool parents at the St Albans schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
86 pupils in this year group.
69% — 5 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 7 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 69% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 13% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 78% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 77% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 81% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Hertfordshire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 26 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 26 |
| Of those, offered a place | 26 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 67 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years Joint 13th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 30% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.2% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 30th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 94% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 26.0% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 13th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 70% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.5% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 25th lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 56% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 28th lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 57% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.7% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 14th lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 58% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 19th lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 51% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 9th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 62% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.6 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 19th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 46% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.5 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 16th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 57% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 14.4% | 15.7%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Bernards Heath Junior School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Margaret Wix Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), improved significantly 2024 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bernards Heath Infant and Nursery School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected
- Maple Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 93% met expected standard (KS2)
- Aboyne Lodge Junior Mixed and Infant School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Alban City School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Abbey CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2025 · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wheatfields Junior Mixed School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wheatfields Infants' and Nursery School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 November 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 11 December 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 69% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 7 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School?
83% of the 175 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 26 families put Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School as their first choice for 26 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 26 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 148434.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.